World’s Best Restaurant named

‘Food is definitely the best way to enjoy the world,’ said Nadia Santini as she collected the award for Best Female Chef at last night’s The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards in London.

The ceremony certainly proved that we have global tastes, with restaurants from the Algarve to Australia earning a place on the list compiled by Restaurant Magazine.

After three years at the top, Noma – Rene Redzepi’s imaginative restaurant in Copenhagen – dropped to second place.

It was El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, which took the title of S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant. The Roca brothers (pictured) – sommelier, pastry chef and head chef – were commended for their experiential Modern Spanish restaurant, and in particular the stand-out Iberian suckling pig dish.

Two other interesting awards went to The Test Kitchen – under chef Luke Dale-Roberts – in Cape Town, which was named One to Watch, and to Alain Ducasse, for his Lifetime Achievement.

Three UK restaurants made the list: The Ledbury, in London, and two of Heston Blumenthal’s, The Fat Duck in Bray and Dinner by Heston at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London.

Two restaurants in Peru were listed, further proving that Peruvian cuisine, already popular in London, is making waves worldwide. And the first Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants awards will be held in Lima this September.

The ceremony was held in London’s Guildhall, and the chefs went on to celebrate at the after-party held in the building’s magnificent crypt.